Mastering the Silvershard Mines

PVA: Player versus Achievements - Silvershard Mines

This guide serves as one in a series of guides. Here, all the achievements found in Silvershard Mines are presented. The battleground itself is a 10v10 match for characters 90+. Additionally, all guides in this series contain information on relevant achievements that can be found in the general PVP category, as requirements for the presented achievements can be completed in any of these battlegrounds.Please vote --> if you find this guide helpful, or leave comments below if you have suggestions on how to improve!Within each of these guides, the same format is used:

The relevant general PVP achievements are listed and described.

General tips on PvP are presented.

An annotated version of the battleground map is displayed, pointing out key regions.

Strategies and tricks on the specific battleground are presented.

All achievements in the battleground that can be completed in a single battle are presented.

The remaining achievements in the battleground are presented.

Links to the other battleground guides in the series are provided.

Important Information

General PVP Achievements

It's important to note that not all of the achievements in the general PVP category are addressed here. Some of them are not relevant to battlegrounds, and have been omitted from the content presented here for that reason. Instead, achievements that can be obtained while in some or all of the battlegrounds are presented.

This is a time- and luck-based achievement. The first one should come fairly easily in battlegrounds, but the others will come with time spent in battlegrounds as enemies are killed. It's not one to focus on specifically, simply because the killing and honorable kills will happen naturally as part of PVP.

This is a time- and luck-based achievement. Conquest points are generally obtained through winning a battleground, and some people are more adept at this than others. This achievement series should not be focused on, as they will happen naturally as the other achievements are earned.

Each mount costs 2k honor, which is obtained through various PvP activities such as battlegrounds, quests, arena, and killing other players. The achievement is not obtained until the mount is learned, removing the possibility of getting a refund after receiving credit.

It's important to note that completion of a battleground is required, not winning it. Queue for specific or random battlegrounds, taking advantage of the increased number of players during Call to Arms! weekends. More players means shorter queue times, and as long as you stay until the battleground's winner has been determined, you'll receive credit. 100 times sounds like a lot, but it will go by quickly for anyone pursuing the achievements found the PvP category.

Contrôle des dégâts: Do 300,000 damage or healing in a single battle in any battleground. The damage or healing must be done to a player.

At max level, this is not particularly difficult for any class or skill level to obtain. Try to stay with a group while attacking to lessen the chances of dying (which halts progress on this achievement). Healers want to stay near groups as well because they're more likely to take damage while attacking or protecting players.

This must be achieved on killing the opposing faction's members. It is easiest not to focus on this until the last race is left, since many kills will happen naturally as one plays PVP battlegrounds. It does require that the player achieve the killing blow, however, so staking out an area and receiving honor for kills in the area isn't sufficient.

Set a macro easily within range of other buttons so that you can hit it after a killing blow. It may take a few attempts, but thankfully some players are slower than others to release after dying so it's not too tricky.

There are ten classes currently in-game. Lower level toons PvP-ing may find they are only missing the Death Knight class kill by the time they hit the level 55 bracket. Max level toons may find it takes several battlegrounds to obtain this achievement, but it will come with time, so aiming for it in particular can be frustrating and lead to adverse results in a battleground.

Le Faucheur: Get 30 Honorable Kills in a single battle in any battleground.

Larger battlegrounds provide the best atmosphere for this achievement, as there are more areas for fighting to occur. Staying with a group helps avoid being picked off by the opposing team, but don't be afraid to attack enemies who are alone.

This is best obtained while at lower levels, especially if the character is well equipped for PvP. Generally, players are still familiarizing themselves with their class, and the end game skills and talents have not yet been learned. Utilize your toon's strengths, whether it be wearing mail or plate while everyone else is in cloth and leather, or being able to take out players from afar. Max level toons will find they need to either "steal" killing blows from teammates or learn their class very well in order to obtain this achievement.

These can be raised by individually grinding at each battleground or by spreading out one's efforts. There are benefits to both strategies, so it is up to the player to decide what tactic to use. Remember that there are quests to bump rep for some of the factions, so that can help speed the reputation gain to Exalted.

Earn the Master of Alterac Valley, Arathi Basin, Warsong Gulch, Eye of the Storm, and Strand of the Ancients achievements for your faction.

This is the "classic" battleground all-star achievement. These can be earned by individually grinding at each battleground or by spreading out one's efforts. There are benefits to both strategies, so it is up to the player to decide what tactic to use.

Earn the Master of the Battle for Gilneas, Isle of Conquest, Twin Peaks, Silvershard Mines, and Temple of Kotmogu achievements for your faction.

This is the "new" battleground all-star achievement. These can be earned by individually grinding at each battleground or by spreading out one's efforts. There are benefits to both strategies, so it is up to the player to decide what tactic to use.

Quick Tips for PvP

PVP is a fast-paced, goal oriented component of the game. Just as some players specialize in raiding end-game content, others focus their efforts on player-vs-player gaming. Because of this, queuing for a battleground can result in a multitude of personalities. As usual, try to identify the players who are acting as leaders and follow their instructions - other players may chime in, but the majority of the group will agree upon one course of action. Unless you're going for a specific personal achievement, it's best to stick to this plan.

If possible, bring a friend (or two or a dozen). If you're going for specific achievements, it can be helpful to have someone else there to assist, keep you alive, or just to look out for you. By the same token, try to stay with the group for the most part. Unless you know what you're doing (and I mean really know what you're doing, the group is the safest place to be.

Be patient. A lot of these achievements are things you'll get close to a few times before you actually earn it. That's why they're achievements. Some take practice, others take timing, and others take the perfect mix of a good group and luck. But just remember that statistically speaking, if you keep going for it, eventually you will.

Try (and I do mean try) not to get caught up in the aggression and insulting that is prevalent in PVP. Gaming is about having fun, not to mention that arguing amongst one's own team is a waste of resources, effort, and most importantly, time that could be spent trying to win the battleground or kill the enemy. If someone thinks you're doing something wrong, either stick to what you're doing if you know you're right, or ask one of the battleground leaders or a guildmate. Chances are, if you show you want to improve, most people will take the time to help. That's not always true, of course, so don't take it personally if you're ignored - unless it's by a guildmate, but that's another issue altogether.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, gear up as you're able! There are vendors who specifically sell PVP gear using the marks you'll earn PVP-ing, and craftsmen can create gear as well. Resistance is your new best friend. It helps you stay alive as you fight other players, so while your PVE gear might be the best in-game, it's not for PVP. Get the appropriate gear or you'll be the other team's favorite punching bag.

Silvershard Mines

Mapping it Out

Alliance players start just north of the center of the map, while Horde players start just south of the center.

Each team is trying to gather 1600 resources from the mines. From the center, a mine cart will spawn on one of the three tracks, and start moving along the track. Up to three mine carts may be active at a given time. Players must gain control of the mine cart by having the majority of the players in the area of the cart be from their team. Resources are gained while the cart is en route to the delivery point at a pace of 1 resource per second by the team that has control of it, and 150 resources are earned by the team that has control when the mine cart is delivered. It should be noted that switch points are available on the East to West sections of the track at each junction, and these can be used to divert a mine cart's path - and control of the cart is not required to push the switch.

Strategizing

Fight in range of a cart at all times. Be in range of a cart, or actively on the way to one, or dead. This battleground relies heavily on crowd-control and stuns to keep opponents out of range of a mine cart, so be prepared to handle this in whatever way possible.

More than any other battleground, this one requires a lot of teamwork and communication. The best teams will strategize prior to the gates opening, and be able to communicate and alter plans while the match is in session.

Single-Battle Achievements

Win Silvershard Mines by earning 1600 resources before the opposing team does. Earn resources by capturing and holding the mine carts as they move around the battleground, as well as by maintaining control of a mine cart as it is delivered.

Gain control of a mine cart just before it is delivered by strategically storming a cart when its capture circle is overlapping with the depot capping area. Note that this can be capturing from neutral, not just from the opposing team.

Cinq sur cinq: Capture five mine carts in a single Silvershard Mines battle without dying.

Personally be in the capture area five times when a mine cart held by your faction is delivered, without dying in between.

L’avidité, c’est bien: Gain both the Berserking and Restoration buffs at the same time in Silvershard Mines.

Personally pick up each of the two buffs available in the battleground and have them active at the same time. Each buff lasts 1 minute, but does not persist through death.

Arrête ton char !: Capture a mine cart using each of the 5 sets of tracks in a single Silvershard Mines match.

In a single battleground, personally be involved in the capture of a mine cart to the delivery points on each of the 5 tracks (East to South, North to West, South, East to North, North to East). Note that each of the tracks running East to West from the midpoint are not valid, but control can be gained from neutral or from the opposing team.)

In 100 matches, win Silvershard Mines by earning 1600 resources before the opposing team does. Earn resources by capturing and holding the mine carts as they move around the battleground, as well as by maintaining control of a mine cart as it is delivered.

About the Author

I'm a Horde-only player with spy Alliance characters for completeness of guides and playing.

I check on all my guides at least once a day for new feedback, and try to keep them up-to-date and respond to any suggestions I receive on them.The full list of my guides to date can be found in the Guides tab on my profile page.

Feel free to send an email to SquireKel at WoW.Guide.Writer@gmail.com for help with your own guide, or to suggest a topic if you've been hoping to see one!